The Powerful Little VA Synth That's Super-Easy to Use

Add synth textures, vintage keyboard sounds, and vocoding excitement to your music project with the microKORG XL PLUS synthesizer -- the big brother to Korg's massively popular microKORG. How do you improve on a smash-hit super-portable synth? For starters, the XL PLUS boasts a more intuitive user interface, more versatile PCM sounds for vintage keyboard instruments, an upgraded microphone for the vocoder, and a USB port. Korg packs all this into a dare-we-call-it-cute 22-inch-wide, under-5-pound package, complete with an improved 37-key Natural Touch mini-keyboard. Fortifed with Korg's powerful Radias sound engine, this compact synth delivers a huge helping of rich analog sounds, including Korg's SGproX stage piano, M1 keyboard, and VOX organ.

Learn more about the Korg MicroKorg XL PLUS with this video:

Easy to Use, Even for Synth Noobs

With analog-style knobs and the welcome addition of a backlit LCD screen, the microKORG XL PLUS begs to be played right out of the box. Korg has laid out its 128 editable preset sounds so even beginners can find what they need fast. Turn the Program Genre dial to one of eight "genres" (try '70s Vintage!) and turn the Program Category dial to a type of instrument (poly synth, bass, lead, strings, and so on). You can now use the Bank Select lever to toggle between sounds in your selected category. No scrolling through menus or punching in numbers - just grab user-friendly knobs and switches to quickly access any of the staple sounds, and use the four right-hand knobs to tweak your tone. Get even more mileage out of the microKORG XL PLUS presets by applying a dedicated two-band EQ and any two effects borrowed from Korg's Kaoss line, from EQ, compression, and delay to pitch and phase-modulation -- 17 effects in all.

Build and Edit Sounds on the Synth...

If building your own sounds from scratch is more your speed, the microKORG XL PLUS lets you get your hands dirty in Full Edit Mode, while the addition of a backlit LCD screen help you see what you're doing. Two oscillators offer PCM-sampled pianos, organs, brass and more, along with the usual analog-modeling suspects like sawtooth and square waves. Shape your sound with two smooth filters, modulate it with two LFOs and three envelopes, and add distortion with the drive/waveshaping processor. Got a sound you like? Turn on the microKORG XL's arpeggiator and apply one of six arpeggio types -- you can adjust duration, spacing, and on/off status for each of eight steps in the pattern, and even synchronize the frequency of your LFO, or your delay effect, to the arpeggiator's tempo. Korg's Virtual Patch mode lets you assign control parameters to sound parameters -- like assigning the mod wheel to control filter cutoffs.

...Or Edit Sounds on Your Computer

If this all sounds like a lot to squint at on such a small keyboard, Korg has you covered with the USB port on the XL PLUS. Connect it to your Mac or PC running Korg's free software editor, back up the factory sounds, and dig deep into your own creations from the comfort of your computer screen. Or simply use the software to rearrange sounds within the banks, so your favorite presets are always just a knob-click away.

Fun with Vocoding

Delight your audience with the microKORG XL PLUS's built-in 16-band vocoder. Just play a chord and talk into the mic to modulate your sound with one of the most dynamic filters on the planet: the human voice. Korg has included a sturdy metal gooseneck microphone that plugs straight into the standard XLR jack in the center top panel, so you can start vocoding right out of the box. Format Shift allows you to adjust each of the 16 frequency bands separately, to warp your voice beyond recognition. This must be what Korg was thinking when gave the name "XL PLUS" to such a tiny synth: it's two tons of fun.

The original microKORG synth made waves with massive analog-modeling sound in a tiny footprint. Now, get analog re-creations plus pianos, electric pianos, strings and more -- along with Kaoss-derived effects -- in the updated microKORG XL PLUS.

Meet The Micro!

For years, the microKORG has been the world's top-selling music synthesizer. Now, the microKORG XL is ready to join the Korg line-up. Based on the same winning combination of a small footprint, mini-keys, battery-powered portability and huge Korg sound, the microKORG XL is ready to expand your musical vocabulary. The fun factor is huge, too. A gooseneck microphone is included for instant synthesizer vocoder excitement, right out of the box!

Neo-Vintage Music Synth Power

The microKORG XL music synthesizer carries a proud pedigree. The MMT (Multi Modeling Technology) sound engine is descended from the RADIAS/R3 synthesizers, while the dual effects processors come down from the famous KAOSS line. The microKORG XL also offers remarkable playability. For example, the black key/white key proportions have been adjusted for easier chording and the key response has been improved for rapid-fire soloing. And the old -school square front keys? Well, they look wicked cool! Together with a sound-bending vocoder and six-pattern arpeggiation, microKORG XL packs a powerful sonic punch.

From Vintage Synths to Modern Creations

The eight-voice MMT synth engine in the microKORG XL music synthesizer offers traditional analog waveforms plus a total of seven algorithms, including formant waveforms, noise, and PCM/DWGS waves for those vintage keyboards and strings. Cross-modulation, unison stacking, and VPM (Variable Phase Modulation) let you create sounds that would be impossible for a conventional PCM synthesizer to generate. Sync and ring modulation also make it easy to create complex and powerful sounds. Two multi-mode filters, a drive/waveshaping circuit for distinctively distorted sounds, and EG and LFO for creating time-varying tonal change, all provide plenty of parameters for serious synthesis. Virtual Patching brings it all together.

Effects Derived from the Korg Kaoss Series

Seventeen up-to-the-minute effects deliver everything from a traditional chorus all the way to grain shifting. In addition, delay effects can be synchronized to a MIDI clock for "beat-sensitive" situations. You can even process external sounds! The microKORG XL's amazing vocoder adds vocal characteristics to any sound, creating everything from pseudo choirs and talking instruments to vintage Sci-Fi robots. Our unique Formant Hold allows you to freeze the vocal input for continuous vocoder effects. You can also use the Formant Shift function to adjust the level and pan of each of the sixteen bands, greatly altering the tonal character. The distinctive retro-styling of the microKorg XL music synthesizer allows for quick selection of any of the 128 on-board, editable programs. For the diehard synthesists and sound designers, the three performance edit knobs provide for fast and effective editing...You're also free to select and assign your favorite parameters! Download the free Editing software and manage sounds on your computer!

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"AWESOME SYNTH !"

Feature:
Great sound re-production.
Ease of Use:
A couple of tweeks and it is easy to use.
Quality:
Seems to be very well constructed.
Value:
Even though I am new to a synth. This is a great value even for the pro.
Manufacturer Support:
We shall see.
The Wow Factor:
Rather plain but still looks good.
Overall:
I have played piano and multiple other instruments including several Guitars purchased from zZounds. This synth isn't quite what I expected. MUCH MORE !After only a limited time I have created some awesome sounds. I am an entry levelsynth person. But this seems to have a lot of professional potential. It looks and sounds great.

Our extended 45-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies on
this productBuy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

What Our Customers Are Saying About zZounds "Everything was easy to find and check out was fast and simple. I will tell all my friends and family about zZounds. It was a pleasant experience and I look forward to my next purchase with zZounds." - Customer on January 11, 2015

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

1. zZounds offers the industry‘s most musician-friendly payment plans

zZounds offers a variety of Play as You Pay installment plans that allow you to get the gear you want today. While our competitors might offer house credit cards that require you to fill out an application and pass a credit check, our payment plans are easy to get, simple to use, and, best of all, accrue zero interest. Unlike those house credit cards that can leave you vulnerable to exorbitant interest charges once the promotional period ends, we never have and never will charge interest when you take advantage of one of the zZounds Play as You Pay plans.

2. zZounds guarantees the lowest price

Seen it for less somewhere else? Get it for less at zZounds. Simply click the “Seen it for less?” link on any product page and as long as we‘re not losing money, we‘ll beat any legitimate competitor‘s lowest price, usually within two hours. Want our best price even faster? Call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637), and we‘ll provide you with a lower price on the phone. Also, if you purchase from us and later find the product for less elsewhere, call or email us within 45 days, and we‘ll refund you the difference.

3. zZounds gets you your gear fast

At zZounds, you‘ll get your gear fast and, usually, with free delivery. Because we have warehouses in New Jersey, Nevada and Mississippi, nearly 95 percent of Americans reside within our two-day shipping zones. Combine this with the fact that many of our best-selling products qualify for free two-day delivery and you get expedited shipping without the additional cost.

4. zZounds makes returns super easy

Buy it, try it, like it, or return it to us for a full refund. It‘s just that simple. If you‘re not in love with what you bought, return it to zZounds within 45 days, and we‘ll promptly arrange for an exchange or a refund. No hassles. No hidden charges. And if a product‘s defective or damaged, call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637), and we‘ll email you a prepaid shipping label so you can easily return it to us at zero cost to you.

5. zZounds delivers top-rated customer service

zZounds has received multiple Bizrate® Circle of Excellence Platinum awards, placing us in the top 0.7 percent of Bizrate‘s network of 5,200 retailers. Our success in meeting the needs of our customers -- since 1996, we‘ve satisfied over 1,000,000 people -- is due in large part to the fact that zZounds only hires experienced musicians to answer your calls and emails, and they are never paid a commission.